Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse is located just south of Daytona Beach, Florida, at Ponce de Leon Inlet. It was lit on November 1, 1887. The tower is 175 feet tall, and it is the second tallest lighthouse on the East Coast. (Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest).The conical tower is made of brick, and the foundation is octagonal--12 feet deep by 45 feet wide. The lighthouse is active, with a flashing "white" light. A marine aero-beacon replaced the antique Fresnel lens, which remains on display in the museum, and the operative light room is closed off to visitors.

There are 203 steps up to the lantern room. I truly enjoyed climbing to the tower--the view at the top is breathtaking. On a funny note, I stopped to rest for a minute (more like about ten minutes) to catch my breath before continuing my climb. I sat in one of the window areas and was truly comfortable until I read the plaque above where I was sitting. The plaque stated "a lighthouse keeper died in this spot due to a heart attack". Immediately, I was inspired to quickly get back on my feet and continue my quest to reach the top! This lighthouse is very accessible, with parking nearby. There are several buildings that can be visited, and a lovely gift shop.